Controlled pressure inking device in rotary printing machines



CONTROLLED PRESSURE INKING DEVICE IN ROTARY PRINTING MACHINES Filed June 29, 1962 A. FUX

2 Sheets-Sheet l 2 B m N 4 w/ a lf 7 n EEEEE INVENTOR.

AIME ux AGENT April 6, 1965 A. FUX 3,176,612

CONTROLLED PRESSURE INKING DEVICE IN ROTARY PRINTING MACHINES Filed June 29, 1962 L 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. AIME ,FUX BY AGENT United States Patent Cfiice katented Apr. 6, 1965 3 176 612 coNrnorLnn ranssnnn WKZNG EN RQTARY PRINTING MACEHNES Aime Fun, Strasbourg, Bas-Rhin, France, assignonto Burroughs fiorporation, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Filed June 29, 1962, Ser. N 266,296 llClaims. ((11. 101-4567) The present invention relates broadly to apparatus for inking member to an ink transfer device thence to means providing adequate and uniform flow of the ink to the surface of the print bearing portion of the apparatus. Still another aspect of the invention had to do with an improved inking member for use with an item or document indorser which lattermechanism may be employed in a high-speed item sorting apparatus operating at a speed of approximately 400" per second, for example, and wherein the items are indorsed on the fly, i.e., the indorsement is placed on the body of the item without stopping the same.

In order to print with a member rotating at high speed several significant problems are involved. For example, the ink must be placed on an associated drum. In contrast to this, in most horizontal i.e., conventional printers, the inking drum is partially immersedin a well and the ink supply is thus applied to the drum in a straightforward manner. Another problem is that a uniform film of ink must be kept on the face of the drum. However, in conventional apparatus gravity acts in such a way as to accumulate the ink at the bottom of the drum. And finally, the ink film thickness must be controlled on thesurface of the drum.

When operating at extremely high speeds there are two additional phenomena, among other things, that tend to complicate the operation of conventional apparatus to a considerable degree. 'One of these is misting i.e., ejection of-ink particles from the surface of the drum due to centrifugal effects and the other is spraying i.e., ejection of inkparticles due to the high rate of shear in the ink film at the point of transfer between the drums. Although these two problems appear to be of a major order of magnitude, at speeds of 1-500 feet per minute, the occurrence of these phenomena can be limited to a reasonable level by controlling the film thickness on the surface of the drum. If the film thickness is constantly held to the absolute minimum'required for satisfactory printing, misting and/or spraying will be substantially eliminated.

It is an important object therefore of the present invention to provide an improved high speed printing apparatus which solves the above and other problems in a novel and unusual manner.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved inking mechanism for high speed printing apparatus of the rotary printing type.

A further object of the present invention is to'provide an inking mechanism in which ink is supplied under pressure to and through a porous inking member disposed adjacent the printing apparatus.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an improved inking system in which ink is supplied at a controllable rate from the surface of a porous inking member disposed in surface contact with a rotatable transfer member in peripheral surface contact with a rotatable printing member. I I It is also an object of the invention to provide an inking apparatus including means preventing misting and/or spraying of ink adjacent the printing member.

In accordance with the foregoing objects and first briefly described the present invention comprises printing apparatus including a rotatable porous ink distributing member disposed in surface contact with a rotatable transfer member, thelatter being operatively interposed between the ink distributing member and an indicia hearing print member and in surface contact or engagement with the latter. A continuous supply of ink for the porous distributing member is provided by utilizing the interior of the porous member as a partial reservoir and connecting thesame to a stationary reservoir and to a source of vacuum, thus to provide a sufiicient amount of ink under predetermined pressure to the distributing.

member. Vacuum 'controlmeans is provided for controlling the rate of transfer of ink from the interior to the exterior surface of the porous member in a manner,

preventing spraying or misting of the ink. A rotatable back-up member operatively associated with the printing member. is adapted when rotated to entrain and move an item therebetween thus to produce a printed impression of the. indicia on the item. I

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and detailsofconstruction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that various changes in form and proportion and minor details of construction may be made within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit ,or sacrificing any advantages of, the invention. For a complete disclosure of the invention, a detailed description thereof will now be given in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification wherein: a

FIG. 1 is anisometric schematic or idealized view of the present invention with portions broken away to expose the interior operating elements thereof; and r FIG. 2 is a greatly enlarged sectional view of the rotating pressure joint and porous inking apparatus with portions broken away to expose the interior to View The present invention incorporates a porous dru'm or roller which is adapted to be, impregn ted with ink thus to provide, a source of a uniformly distributed ink Since the be rotating preferably on a vertical axis. havior of such. a roller is essentially. dominated bythe surface tension effects between the ink and the pores in the material of which the roller distributor member is fabricated, it is relatively insensitive to gravity and can.

thus be used'inany physical orientation e.g., horizontal, vertical, etc. 7 Thisetfectively solves the problem of getting the ink on a vertical drum and also to a large measure, solv es the problem of keeping a uniform filmof ink on the face of the drum. The apparatus effectively produces su'ch'a filmdue to the relatively large number of open capillary spaces or tubes filled with ink which permits the ink toseep or ooze out in small amounts as, soon as the surface tension is disrupted, as when contact is made witha'transfer'roller or type face. i

Such an impregnated roller appears to providasatisfactory ink supply at slowspeeds for a number of different applications. There are several problems relative to such a roller ink supply however. For example, theink supply is limited and theroller has to be periodicaly impregnated with ink. Without more, there is relatively'littlefine control over the ink flow since the characteristics of the arrests roller depends upon its past history in use and there is relatively little control over the centrifugal effects on the ink at high rotary speeds. Without more there is thus provided a single mode of operation since it is not possi ble to adjust the ink flow so as to be related to the amount combining the most desirable aspects or features of the impregnated roller principle with 'a novel ink transfer and pressurized ink reservoir apparatus. A substantially continuous supply of ink to the porous distributing roller is provided by using the center of the roller as an auxiliary reservoir and connecting this reservoir to a larger stationary main refillable reservoir by means of a rotary pressure joint. The size of the stationary reservoir is entirely arbitrary and can thus be made large enough to insure operation for a reasonable length of time between consecutive printer cyclings. .With the foreging in view the ink supply is now continuous and its flow no longer depends on the past condition of the roller, as to whether or not it has had ink on it before. The centrifugal effects on the ink can now be compensated for by setting the pressure of the ink in the main reservoir below atmospheric pressure. This is one of the important features of the invention as will be hereinafter described. The ink flow can now be very finely controlled since it is a function of the pressure differential. between the center of the roller and the surface of the roller. Thus the roller acts in the nature of a centrifugal pump and the ink flow can be controlled by controlling the inlet pressure to this roller pump.

The ink flow can be adjusted either manually or auto matically so as to correspond to the amount of ink actually used in printing simply by varying the ink pressure in the main reservoir. It thus becomes possible and practicable to operate with a negligible amount of or sub-' stantially no misting and/or spraying with variable ink consumption. There are other applications wherein it may be desirable to have the printing means rotating I independently of whether or not there is paper beingfed through the printer-indorser apparatus. The ink flows required for these conditions have different extreme modes of operation which are several orders of magnitude apart a printing-indorsing apparatus generally including a rotatable ink distributing member such as. the porous, roller assembly 12, which will be describedin detail later on herein, disposed adjacent and in peripheral surface contact with anink transfer member 14 which in this embodiment is'also illustrated as a roller. The ink transfer member 14 may comprise a roller having a flat, smooth, peripheral surface and may be, rotated with the same peripheral velocity, by means not sho n, as the ink distributing roller 12 against the confronting peripheral surface of a print or indicia bearing member 16, rotated by means not shown, the construction of which also will be set forth in detail hereinafter. The print wheel or roller 16 is in surface contact with a rotatable back-up member 18 also illustrated as a roller, and driven by means not shown, with the same peripheral velocity. Thesurface engagement or'contact between the print roller 16 and the back-up member 18 issuch as to enable these two members, when rotating, to entrain and grip a'sheet itemltl; such as a check or other type of dqcumentmovable therebetween, and move'the same in the direction of the'arrow 22 by means not shown, ina mannercausing the print wheel 16 to. mark an impression upon the item from the type font 24 carried .by member '16; The

ink distributing roller assembly 12 includes a porous annular element 26 the details of which are set forth later on herein and which is supplied with ink, now shown, through a movable pressure joint 23 driven, for example, by means of cleated pulley wheel 30, clcated belt 32,iand cleated pulley 34, the latter being attached to and rotated by means of the drive shaft 36, operably connected to a motor 38. The manner in which this drive is realized is incidental to the operation of the device. It could be by means of gears, chains, etc. Shaft 36 also is operably associated with and drives a rotatable oil-less type vacuum pump 49 of known and conventional type construction, for purposes to be explained shortly.

The rotating pressure joint 28 is fed with ink from a main refillable reservoir 42, comprising a pair of oppositely disposed hollow cylindrical chambers 44 and 46,

each of which includes an annular rim or flange 44 and 46 respectively, at confronting ends thereof. The chambers are disposed with their rims 44 and 46' in confronting relation and are joined together, as by bolts 47,

annularly sealing therebetween the rim 48 of a rolling diaphragm 50 of flexible construction such for example, as Neoprene, ink impervious rubber or other similar material.

The upper chamber 44, FIG. 1, is provided with an inlet pipe 52, including a control'valve 54therefor. An outlet pipe 56 leads from chamber 44 of the reservoir 42 to the inlet portion of the rotating pressure joint 28.

Ink, not shown, may thus be introduced into the system.

by way of the inlet extension 69 via the valve 54.-

A piston 62 carried on one end of an elongated rigid shaft or rod 64 is slidably, reciprocably movable through upper and lower bushings 66 and 68 and an O'riug seal 700 3 rubber or other similar resilient sealing material disposed in the lower or end wall of chamber 46 of the reservoir. The piston 62 may be fabricated in two separable parts or pieces, the lower part 72 forming a seat or land for receiving the central portion 72 of the diaphragm 50 while the upper part 76 forms a cap therefor and may be threadedly engaged therewith in a known manner; An inlet pipe or connection 78, for purposes to be explained presently, may be formed in or attached to the lower chamber 46.

The use of the rolling diaphragm 50 of flexible material 'such as Neoprene or other similar material, permits the main reservoir 42 to change volume without having the ink come into contact with the atmosphere at any other point than the one where it is actually being used, i.e., the surface of the roller assembly 12. This provides an important advantage of permitting the use of a very fast drying ink without the risk of the ink clogging the inking system, which heretofore has been another constraint upon fast operating printing devices. a i

The chamber 46 on the opposite side of the rolling diaphragm 50 is connected by means of the pipes or conduits 78 and '73 to the vacuum pump 40 which is driven by the drive means beforemention'ed, and interconnected by means of the inlet extension 79 with a control valve 80 for varying the pressure in chamber 46, and consequently in chamber 44. The pressure in chamber 46 may be equal to atmospheric pressure minus the pressure differential due to centrifugal effects at the roller 12 when the system is idling, i.e., with no ink flow or with just enough flow to keep the surface of the transfer member 14 wet with ink. This pressure can be adjusted to sorne higher pressure by means. of the control valve 80, ,e.g., when more flow is required during the printing operation. In steady-state operation (i.e., constant speed) the difference between the centrifugal forces developed in the porous roller and the'static pressure differential between the interior and the exterior surfaces of the porous roller and if the flow through the pump 40 is approximately proportional to this speed compensation for the centrifugal effects will be approximately realized at all speeds and relatively little if any disturbance of the ink distribution on the porous roller will be noticed during the starting up and stopping transients of the system, since both the pressure differential through valve 813 and the centrifugal forces vary proportionally to the square of the velocity.

An air filter 82 is connected to the ink pressure control valve 81 to prevent or lessen the ingress of foreign bodies into the system which would either clog the pores of the porous roller 12 or disturb the pressure balance in the system. A valve 84 is associated with the porous inking roller assembly 12 to. provide for an outlet for the air imprisoned in the system during the ink filling operation.

Attached to the lower end of the shaft 64- is a collar 86 which is operably disposed in the path of and engageable with the actuator 88 of a switch 90.

Thus, when the main reservoir 42 is being emptied of ink, the diaphragm 50 is moved toward the top of the reservoir pulling with it the shaft 64 and causing the collar 36 to engage the actuator 88 closing the switch 96 and indicating that the reservoir is empty, or almost empty, whichever indication is desired. The indicator is not shown but may comprise any well known device such asa hell or lamp, for example.

As seen most clearly in FIG. 2, the porous roller assembly 12 and the rotating pressure joint 28 are interconnected by means of an elongated stepped tubular rotatable shaft 92 which extends substantially from the base of the rotating joint 28 to a point well within the assembly 12 and includes an axial bore 94 extending completely therethrough. The joint 28 includes a fixed substantially cupshaped cylindrical member 96 having at its lower end a reduced portion 98 extending through a fork-shaped aperture 109 in a structural frame member 102 so as to inhibit rotation of the member 96; The shaft 92 is rotatably disposed on a pressure member 1%, the portion 1&6 of which extends into the counter-bore 108 of the member 96 with its bore 110 in axial alignment with the bore 94 of shaft 92. The member 104 is prevented from rotating on the ledge 112' by means of a pin 114 extending through the rim 116 thereof and into the ledge 112. A rubber O-ring 113 seals the member 1&4 Within the counterbore 108. oppositely disposed apertures 126 and 122 are formed through the member 96, adjacent the upper end of member ill-l. The apertures areprovided with enlarged threaded coaxial pontions-120 and 122, respectively, for reception therein of a pipe coupling or fitting 124- and 124. Pipe coupling 126 is threaded into an aperture 123 inthe end 93 of the member 96. A coil spring 130 received within the base of the counter-bore 1G3 biases the member 194 vertically upwardly thereby forcing the confronting surfaces 132 and 134 of the members 92' and 194 respectively, into surface engagement or contact, for purposes to be explained hereinafter.

Shaft 92 performs a dual function in the present apparatus. It i the means by which ink is conveyed from the pipe 56 to roller assembly 12 and it is also the means by which roller assembly 12 is rotated at a desired operational speed. Shaft 92 is supported and journalledfor rotation throughout its length by means of a lower and an upper set of ball bearings 138 and 140, respectively (FIG.1). v

The lower enlarged end 142 of shaft 92 is surrounded by a sealing gasket 144 of double walled, cup-shaped con figuration which is seated upon aninner ledge 146-in1the member 96 with the inner walliportion 144' pressed fairly tightly against portion 142 and retained thereagainst by means of a C-ring 148 of metal or other similar semi-rigid,yet slightly flexible material.

The lower set of bearings 136 includes a dual race 136a and 136b which is recessed within the opening 152 in the member 96 so as to seat on the ledge 1-54. A circular nut iary ink reservoir.

6 156 is threadedly received in the member 96 audholds the bearings 136 within the member 96.

Drive means for the apparatus may be of any well known type such for example as the drive pulley 30 which is provided with upper and lower annular collars or flanges. 160 and 16th press-fitted thereto with the outer edges thereof flared slightly, as shown in FIG; 2, andis secured to the shaft 92 asby a set screw 162 threadedly received into an opening 164'in the hub 166 of [the pulley. In order to effect a positive drive the pulley 30 is provided with teeth 168 engageable with teeth or cleats'170, FIG. 1,

of the pulley drive belt 32'. Shaft 92 is supported above the pulley 32 by means of a hollow columnar or cylindrical member 172, FIG. 1, having a flange 174 intermediate its ends and through which a plurality of bolts 1-75'are passed to threadedly secure the member 172 to. a supporting frame 176. A O-ring 178 received in a 'groowe 180 in the upper portion of shaft 92 locates the shaft axially with respect to thebearings.

In general, the porous roller assembly 12, previously referred to briefly herein, comprises a multi-part assembly including upper and lower annular members-182 and 184, respectively, between which there is positioned the porous annular member 26 of slightly larger diameter than the members 182 and 184-so that a peripheral portion 26' projects outwardly therefrom as shown. As. previously mentioned, the member 26 may be of porous metal, plastic or other suitable material through which a liquid ink may flow or ooze without excessive head-loss. The member 26 structurally includesa plurality-of microscopic pores, channels or interstices which arev practically in! visible torthe naked eye, and through which ink is adapted to pass as a result for example, of centrifugal forces and/ or any pressure differential whichis made tofexist internally and externally of the system.

The confronting angular surfaces 186 and 188 of the member 182 and 184 respectively, are disposed flush with the inwardly angled faces 26a and 26b of the. member 26. Member 184 is secured to the upper end of the shaft 92 by means ofa-set screw 190. threaded through a suitable opening in the hub 192 thereofi' A resilient O-ring 194 of rubber, etc., seals this portion of the shaft against the escape of ink or ingressof air. v

The ink supply system has been separated into two parts e.g. the main reservoir, and the auxiliary. reservoir, so as to provide a stationary variable volume container connected to a rotary source of supply of ink.

At its extreme upper end the bore 94 of shaft92 is flared outwardly much on the orderof afunnehas indicated by the reference character 196. The upper vertically extending portion 198- of themember 184 is provided with a threaded portion 2159! for engagement with a circular. cap nut 202, as will be broughto'ut more fully hereinafter. The lower internal portion 204 is flared oppositely tothat of the portion 196 thereby to form acupola shaped auxil-. V The straight line'intermediate Wall portion 206 of the reservoir is provided. with a plurality of spaced spoke-like apertures 208 radiating circularly therearoundr Each aperture opens into the rear or inner peripheral surface of theporous element 26. A groove 212in portion 198 receives a resilient 0.-ring 214? thus to seal the members. 182' and 1.84 againstlthe escape of ink, except through the porous ring 24, or the'ingress of air. An internallythreadedibore 216 extends upwardly. through the'portion' 198 for threadedly receiving-thev 'pipe connection 218 to which the valve 84, FIG. 1,-is secured. The

nut 202 with a washer 220 tightens and fho'ldsthe three members 182,26 and 18,41togethe'r into the unitary assem Any trapped air escapes through valve 84. When the ink reaches 84, the rod 64 is pushed slightly upwardly. and then both valves 54 and 84 are closed. The system is then full of ink at atmospheric pressure.

Motor 34 is energized over lines 236 permitting vacuum, controlled by the valve 80 and produced by the vacuum pump-40 to be applied to the lower chamber 46 directly behind the diaphragm causing a pressure differential with respect to atmospheric pressure to exist within and throughout the system. When the roller assembly 12 is brought up to operating speed, for example, 400 per second, centrifugal forces cause ink to be released from the pores of the member 26 and to coat or cover the surface of the porous roller with a thin film or coating layer of ink. The vacuum at the lower chamber 46 is now adjusted by means of valve 80 so as to substantially balance the pressure built up at the member 26 thereby preventing any over-spray or misting at the porous inking roller surface due to the centrifugal operating forces as the rotating joint and pulley 30 spins the porous inking roller.

By means of line 232 the vacuum is applied to the cupola-shaped volume enclosing the rotary joint thus establishing the same pressure on both sides of the joint, and eliminating the possibility of leakage of air into the system.

Valve 236 permits a small inflow of air into the circuit connected to the vacuum pump, in parallel with the flow through valve 80. This flow of air is destined to cool the rotary joint. Moreover, it can be seen that since the flow through the pump is approximately proportional to the speed of. operation of the roller the centrifugal eflfects are approximately compensated for at all speeds, due to the fact that the pressure drop through valve 80 is approximately proportional to those efiects. And more particularly, these efiects are of a low level of disturbance to the ink distribution on the porous roller during the. starting up and stopping transients of the system.

In order to provide for ease of replacement, service and change of type font the print bearing member 16 may include a detachable, removable, semi-rigid yet slightly flexible print font 'of character similar in construction to that shown and described in the mpending United States patent application to Edward M. Johnson, Serial No. 96,033, filed March 15, 1961, entitled Inking Me.- chanism for Printing Apparatus, and assigned to the same assignee as the present invention.

What is claimed is:

l. lnking apparatusfor printing equipment comprising, an ink distributing member permeable to liquid ink and having an exposed cylindrical surface portion thereon, means mounting said ink-distributing member for rotative movement, a cylindrical indicia bearing member likewise mounted for rotative movement, and capable of producing an impression therefrom, meansfor transferring ink from said ink distributing member. to .said indicia bearing member, means coupling'said ink distributing member to. a source of rotative power, an ink reservoir,

said couplingmeans including means for supplying ink to said ink distributing member from said ink reservoir, and, means for placing the ink at said ink distributing member under sufficient vacuum to counteract the effect ink is substantially eliminated. r

2. Inking mechanism for printing apparatus comprising,

I of centrifugal forces at the surface of said ink distributing 7 member as a result of the rotation of'saidmember where by during a printing operation misting and spraying of a porous ink distributing roller member, means mounting v a said roller member for rotation about a vertical axis at a relatively high rateof ,speed, arotatable type carrying roller member, a demountable, removable'type bearing element operably engageable with and receivable oger said type carrying member, an ink transfer roller menu her intermediate said ink distributing rollermember and said type carrying roller member and capable of transfer-.

ring ink from the surface of said ink distributing member to said type bearing element when the latter members are rotating so as to wet the type bearing element with ink, means coupling said ink distributing roller member tov a source of rotative torque, a variable volume ink reservoir, said coupling means including means for conducting ink from said ink reservoir to said ink distributing member, vacuum means coupled to said source of rotative torque, and, means for applying vacuum from said vacuum means to said coupling means and to said reservoir so that when said ink distributing member is rotating at high speed the centrifugal forces developed at the surface thereof may be substantially counter-balanced by the vacuum applied thereto from said vacuum means thus to prevent the spraying and misting of ink from the surface of said ink distributing member during a printing operation.

3. inking apparatus for printing equipment comprising, an ink distributing member. permeable to liquid ink and having an exposed surface portion thereon, means mounting said ink distributing member for'rotative movement, a rotatable indicia bearing member capable of producing an impression therefrom, means intermediate said ink distributing member and said indicia bearing member for transferring ink from the surface portion of said ink distributing member to the surface of said indicia bearing member so as to wet the latter with ink, means coupling said ink distributing member to a source of rotative power, a variable volume ink reservoir, said coupling means including means for supplying ink from said ink reservoir to the ink distributing member, vacuum supplying means for said apparatus, and, means for coupling said vacuum supplying means to said ink distributing member whereby said ink distributing member is placed under suflicient vacuum to counteract the effect of centrifugal forces developed during the rotation of said ink distributing member so that misting and spraying of ink is substantially eliminated.

4. Inking apparatus for printing equipment comprising, an ink distributing member permeable to liquid ink and having an exposed surface portion thereon, means mounting said ink distributing member for rotative movement, a rotatable indicia bearing member capable of producing an impression therefrom, means intermediate said ink distributingmember and said indicia bearing member for transferring ink from the surface portion of said ink distributing member to the surface of said indicia bearing member so as to wet the latter with ink, means coupling said ink distributing member to a source of rotative power, a' variable volume ink reservoir, said coupling means including means for supplying ink from said ink reservoir to the ink distributing member, vacuum supplying means for said apparatus, means for varying the output of said vacuum supplying means, and, means coupling said vacuum supplying means to said ink distributing member whereby said ink distributing member is placed under suflicient vacuum to counteract the effect of centrifugal forces developed during the rotation of said ink distributing member so that misting and spraying of ink is substantially eliminated. p

p 5. Inking apparatus for printing equipment comprising, a porous relatively permeable ink distributing member having an exposed cylindrical surface portion thereon, means'mounting said ink distributing member for rotative movement, 7 a rotatable, cylindrical indicia bearing member capable of producing an impression therefrom,

,ing ink to said ink distributing memberfrom said reservoir,

and, means applying vacuum to said ink distributing member sufiicient to offset the effect of centrifugal forces developed at the periphery ofsaid porous member as a result of its rotation whereby during a printing operation snisting and spraying of ink is eliminated.

6. Inking apparatus for printing equipment comprising, 'a porous relativelypermeable ink distributing member having an exposed cylindrical surface portion thereon, means mounting said ink distributing member for rotative movement, a rotatable cylindrical indicia bearing member capable'of producing an impression therefrom, cylindrical means disposed intermediate said ink distributing member and said indicia bearing member and'in surface contact with both for transferring ink from the exposed surface of said ink distributing member to said indicia bearing member so as to wet the indicia thereon with ink, means coupling said ink distributing member to a source of rotative torque, a variable volume ink reservoir, said coupling means including means for supplying ink to said ink distributing member from said reservoir, means applying vacuum to said ink distributing member sufficient to offset the eflect of centrifugal forces developed at the periphery of said porous member as a result of its rotation whereby during a printing operation misting and spraying of ink is eliminated, and, means operably associated with said reservoir for indicating the relative content of the ink supply therein.

7. Inking apparatus for printing equipment comprising, a porous relatively permeable annular ink distributing member, clamping means mounting said ink distributing member therebetween leaving a surface portion thereof exposed, a rotatable indicia bearing member capable of producing an impression therefrom, means disposed intermediate said ink distributing member and said indicia bearing member for transferring ink from the exposed surface of said ink distributing member to said indicia bearing member so as to wet the indicia thereon with ink, means coupling said ink distributing member to a source of rotative torque, a variable volume ink reservoir for said apparatus, said coupling means including means supplying ink to said ink'distributing member from said reservoir, means applying vacuum to said ink distributing member sufficient to ofiset the effect of centrifugal forces developed at the periphery of said porous member as a result of its rotation whereby during a printing operating misting and spraying of ink is eliminated, and, means operably associated with said reservoir for indicating the exhaustion of the ink supply therein.

8. Inking mechanism for printing apparatus comprising, an ink distributing assembly, said assembly including a rigid annular ink permeable member, means mounting said ink distributing assembly for rotative movemenh. upper and lower annular clamping members secured to said mounting means, said upper and lower clamping means being disposed in confronting relation on said mounting means with the-ink permeable member in interfitting relationship therebetween and having a peripheral surface portion of said ink permeable member exposed, an indicia bearing member likewise mounted for rotative movement and capable of producing an impression therefrom, rotatable means for transferring ink from said ink distributing member to said indicia bearing member, means coupling said mounting means to a source of rotative power, an ink reservoir for said apparatus, said coupling means including means for conducting ink to said ink distributing member from said ink reservoir, and, means for placing the ink at said ink distributing member under suflicient vacuum to conteract the effect of centrifugal forces at the surface of said ink distributing memher as a result of the rotation of said member whereby during a printing operation misting and spraying of the ink is substantially eliminated. V

9. Inking apparatus for printing equipment comprising, an ink distributing member permeable to liquid ink and having an exposed surface portion thereon, means mounting said ink distributing member for rotative movefor transferringinkfromthe surface portion of said ink distributing member-to-the surface of said indicia'bearing member-so as to-wet the latter with ink, means coupling' said ink distributing member to asource of rotative power, a variable volume ink reservoir, said coupling means including a rotatable pressure joint, means for conducting ink from said ink reservoir through said pressure joint to the ink distributing member, vacuum supplying means, means coupling said vacuum supplying means to said ink distributing member whereby said ink distributing member is placed under sufficient vacuum to counteract the effect of centrifugal forces during the rotation of said ink distributing member so that misting and spraying of ink is substantially eliminated, and, means operatively associated with said pressure joint permitting atmospheric air to cool said joint during rotation thereof.

10. Inking mechanism for printing apparatus comprising, a porous ink distributing roller member, means mounting said roller member for rotation about a vertical axis at a relatively high rate of speed, a rotatable type carrying roller member, a dernountable, removable type bearing element operably engageable with and receivable over said type carrying member, an ink transfer roller member intermediate said ink distributing roller member and said type carrying roller member in surface contact with both of said members and capable of transferring ink from the surface of said ink distributing member to said type bearing element when the latter members are rotating so as to wet the type bearing element with ink, means coupling said ink distributing roller member to a source of rotative torque, a variable volume ink reservoir including means for adjusting the pressure differential as desired, said coupling means including means for conducting ink from said ink reservoir to said ink distributing member, vacuum means coupled to said source of rotative torque, and, means for applying vacuum from said vacuum means to said coupling means and to said reservoir so that when said ink distributing member is rotat ing at high speed the centrifugal forces developed at the surface thereof may be substantially counterbalanced by the vacuum applied thereto from said vacuum means thus to prevent the spraying and misting of ink from the surface of said ink distributing member during a printing operation.

11. Inking apparatus for printingequipment comprisa variable volume ink reservoir including means permitting the volume of said reservoir to change without the ink contacting the atmosphere except at said ink distributing member; said coupling means including means for supplying ink from said ink reservoir to the ink distributing member, vacuum supplying means for said apparatus, means for synchronizing the operation of said .source of rotative power and said vacuum supplying ing the rotation of said ink distributing member so that misting and spraying of ink is substantially eliminated.

(References on foiiowing page) References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Pettee 101-367 Strawn 101367 X Borowetz 101125 Brasseur 101-419 Weltmer et a1 101367 X 123 2,300,949 11/42 Leuhrs 101-367 2,319,616 5/43 Leuhl's 101--367 2,913,980 11/59 Lindemann 101-367 X 2,965,911 12/60 Hempel et a1. 101367 X WILLIAM D. PENN, Primary Examiner.

ROBERT E. PULFREY, Exmnilzer. 

1. INKING APPARATUS FOR PRINTING EQUIPMENT COMPRISING, AN INK DISTRIBUTING MEMBER PERMEABLE TO LIQUID INK AND HAVING AN EXPOSED CYLINDRICAL SURFACE PORTION THEREON, MEANS MOUNTING SAID INK DISTRIBUTING MEMBER FOR ROTATIVE MOVEMENT, A CYLINDRICAL INDICIA BEARING MEMBER LIKEWISE MOUNTED FOR ROTATIVE MOVEMENT, AND CAPABLE OF PRODUCING AN IMPRESSION THEREFROM, MEANS FOR TRANSFERRING INK FROM SAID INK DISTRIBUTING MEMBER TO SAID INDICIA BEARING MEMBER, MEANS COUPLING SAID INK DISTRIBUTING MEMBER TO A SOURCE OF ROTATIVE POWER, AN INK RESERVOIR SAID COUPLING MEANS INCLUDING MEANS FOR SUPPLYING INK TO SAID INK DISTRIBUTING MEMBER FROM SAID INK RESERVOIR, AND, MEANS FOR PLACING THE INK AT SAID INK DISTRIBUTING MEMBER UNDER SUFFICIENT VACUUM TO COUNTERACT THE EFFECT OF CENTRIFUGAL FORCES AT THE SURFACE OF SAID INK DISTRIBUTING MEMBER AS A RESULT OF THE ROTATION OF SAID MEMBER WHEREBY DURING A PRINTING OPERATION MISTING AND SPRAYING OF INK IS SUBSTANTIALLY ELIMINATED. 